Smoke Detectors

• All Shaker Heights residents are required to have a minimum of one smoke detector adjacent to the sleeping area in each dwelling unit and at least one smoke detector on each additional level of the dwelling, including the basement.
• Smoke detectors are readily available and can be installed by the homeowner or apartment dweller. These units can detect abnormal smoke accumulations and sound an immediate alarm to alert the occupants. We recommend an ionization or photoelectric smoke detector which detects visible or invisible particles of combustion. Use only UL-approved detectors.
• Types
• • Battery-operated detectors need no wiring. Batteries will have to be replaced once a year.
  • Cord-connected detectors make use of a receptacle which is not subject to loss of power by a wall switch.
  • Detectors that use an independent source of power are run on an independent circuit.
• Installation and Maintenance
• • Battery-operated and cord-connected detectors can be installed by the homeowner if the instructions enclosed with the detectors are carefully followed.
  • If batteries are used as a source of energy, they should be replaced in accordance with the recommendation of the alarm equipment manufacturer.
  • All equipment should be installed in a work-manlike manner.
  • If a supplier or installing contractor is used, the owner should obtain an instruction book.
  • All detectors should be restored to normal promptly after each alarm or test.
  • Tests and examinations, such as recommended by the manufacturer, should be made by the home or apartment dweller at least once a month.
• Smoke detectors and batteries will be provided free to residents who cannot afford them. The Fire Department will also install smoke detectors for residents who require assistance.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas produced by fuel-burning appliances. Each year thousands of people become ill due to CO poisoning caused by improperly maintained appliances. CO poisoning may cause irreversible damage to one’s health and requires immediate medical attention.
• To protect your family from CO poisoning, it is recommended that you install at least one detector near the sleeping areas in your home. If your CO detector goes off and you feel ill, you should immediately leave your home and seek emergency help. If you or other family members don’t feel ill, you should open windows and doors to ventilate the home, shut off all fuel-burning appliances and call the Fire Department to investigate the cause of the alarm. Never ignore the alarm!
• Maintenance of a CO detector should be according to manufacturer’s instructions, and should include monthly testing.

Additional Protection

• Professional Systems

The homeowner or apartment dweller must determine what degree of fire protection he or she desires, balanced against the cost of that protection. Presently, the best available is a system installed and monitored by a reliable company operating under a permit issued by the City of Shaker Heights. This type of system will detect a fire and alert the occupants of the house and at the same time notify the Shaker Heights Fire Department or an alarm office maintained by the installing company, which, in turn, will call the Fire Department.

Home Inspections

• The Fire Department offers free  home safety inspections by appointment throughout the year. Using a “Home Fire Safety Checklist,” two firefighters inspect dwellings from top to bottom. Among the hazards they look for are faulty or inadequate electrical wiring, improper storage of paints, thinners and other combustible liquids, and unsafe heating and cooking areas.
• The Home Inspection Program, which focuses on preventive measures, provides residents with expertise on how to make their homes fire-safe. Firefighters can also provide information on smoke detectors and home escape plans, as well as hazards in homes and garages.
• To make an appointment for a home inspection, call the Fire Prevention Bureau, 216-491-1215, between 8:30 AM and 5 PM weekdays.

Fire Safety

• Fire is the third leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Residential occupancies account for most fire fatalities, and most deaths occur at night during the sleeping hours. Most fire casualties are the victims of smoke and gas inhalation, rather than burns.
• To provide reasonable fire safety for persons in family living units, the Shaker Heights Fire Department recommends a three-point program:
• • Minimize fire hazards
  • Provide a fire warning system (smoke detectors)
  • Have – and practice – a home fire escape plan